Apparatus for filtration of liquids



E. N. BAELY APPARATUS FOR FILTRATION OF LIQUIDS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed 24, 1947 m w .A M T M Vm ML i w A Feb, 7;, H5@ E. w. BAILY 2,496,370

APPARATUS FOR FILTRATION OF LIQUIDS Filed. May 24, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 T I 25-- I I l A 1 5 i VI 1.70 I l 46 i it INVENTOR.

EDGAR. W\LL\'AM EAILY BY i I/ l/f/m M Patented Feb. 7, 1950 APPARATUS'FOR FILTRATION OF LIQUIDS Edgar W. Baily, Barley, England, assignor to Paterson Engineering Company, Ltd, London, England; a corporation of Great Britain Application May 24; 1947; Serial No. 750,241 n-GreatBritain July' 9, 1946' SCIaims. 1.

This invention relates-to filtering apparatus, of, the. kind in-which a mediumsuch as kieselguhr, siliceous earth, or other. like particulate mate rial. is-deposited upon-a rigidsupport or founda-. tion, whether metallic. or, non-metallic, and consisting, for example, ofv a helical. wire winding, multiple discs, .wire mesh, a porous ceramic. candle, or other,support, all.hereinafter referred to. by the generic, term. "candle? or element.

A principal objectoithis invention is to provide. animprovedfilter. of the. type referred to, and. especially. a filter. whichavoids. the loss. of solu: tion heretofore customary.

A further. obj ect.of.this. invention isto provide. a. filter. assemblyin which thefilter. bedjof filten aid material. can, bei'ormed. with an inexpensive. liquid, suchas. water... the filter. casing drained. withoutdisturbing the filter. bed, and. a run. of. valuableliquidto .befiltered' then. mtroducedjand. passed. through the. preformed... filtering coat.

These, and other objectswill be. apparent from the following specifi'cationand claims.

li'iltersoi the .WDe mentioned are. usually of, two types, one. in which the. candles are, suspended from a; division plate, or partition, which forms the bottomof the outlet, or discharge, or filtrate chamber, andthe other in which the outlet chamber is at the bottom of the filter and the elements stand up from the division plate.

In thefirst mentionedtypeiof filter the filter medium, such askieselguhr, is usually mixed with; some liquid and poured into the filter before starting the filtration of the main bulk of-the: liquid, the liquidthenbeing fed to the filter-through aninlet fitting designed to producelocalturbulence and mixing with the-filter medium already introduced' and carrying it onto the foundation, where it is strained out andremains as a filter-bed as long as the liquid continues-t'o-fiow. In this type of filter the first liquid passing through the filter, i. e;, that being filtered until a satisfactory coating of filter aid material is formed on the candle, must be wasted or refilteredasitwill obviously be insuflicientlyclarifled. until the'filter coating is-properly-iormed;

In; the second. type..- of; filt r-the filter. bed. me-- dium is; usually mixed. withsome other liq id thanthat to be filtered: (e. g. water'in some cases, or a. thin. solvent constituent oi the main liquid in others). and pumped-through the filter. When the bed is formed. theliquid is. drained out throu hthe bed by gravity or displaced. by air pressuraleaving the. filtering mediumas a moist. bedon. the candles. Theliquid. to be filteredis now passed through .the filter. and passes through 2 the bed, without disturbing it so that filtration isz-perfectirom the start. On completion of a.

filtering run the liquid can be drained out, ordisplaced, as before, so that there is a minimum.

.-- of waste.

The filter with the suspended elements has the advantagethata, used bed can bedropped and reformed ordischarged by back washing, while this is difiicult or impossible with a filter in which the elements-have outlets into the filtrate chamber-at the bottom. On the other hand, the-filter with erect elements, 1; e., having outlets at the bottom, enables the bed to be formed without loss of valuable liquid and also enables practically the whole of the valuable liquid to be filtered without the. loss of that contained in the space surroundingthe elements. This is of consider-. able importance in filtering substances, of considerable-value, such as sugar solutions, essential oils, varnishes, soft drink syrups, andthe like.- The removal of the used or spent bed however entails the-opening up of the filter, scraping, washing, or hosing down the elements, which is inconvenient and laborious, and can be economicaL ly justified only by the fact that the liquid contained in the filter casing is of sufiicient value to warrant the considerable labor expense involved.

The object. of the present invention is to devise an improved form of filter of the kind referred to which will possess the advantages of the two types described above without their attendant disadvantages. Briefly, the invention comprises afilter of the kind referred to in which the filter casing is, mounted on, trunnions, which may be hollow and used as inlet and outlet respectively. This arrangement is such that the filter can be worked for forming the bed, and for cleaning, with the filtrate chamber uppermost, and the elements depending from the division plate. It can be inverted after forming the bed, so that the elements stand erect from the division plate, whereupon the. liquid used for forming the bed can be drainedout without disturbing the bed, and. theniollowed. by the liquid to. be filtered. The expensive liquid being filtered can be almost completely filteredthrough the bed, being displaced by air, steam or other fluid if. necessary, so that the filter, casing is emptied without loss of valuable material. For discharging the bed 'from the element, the filter should be returned to the original position with the elements depending from. the plate, and compressed air or other, fluid under pressure then may be used to assist inthrowing on the filter bed.

Figure l is a vertical cross sectional view of the filter in the first position, in which the bed is ready for forming on, or removing from, the candles as desired.

Figure 2 is a vertical cross sectional view of the filter in the second position, in which the material to be filtered passes through the bed.

The filtering elements are contained in casing |0, preferably formed with a conical bottom A valved sludge discharge line |2 leads from the apex of the conical bottom for the discharge of spent filtering material. An inlet I3, having a downwardly directed discharge nozzle M and a control valve l5, discharges into the conical por-' tion. This construction has the advantage that a supply of filter aid material can be introduced into the casing and the infiowing liquid will suspend the same so that it wi11 be deposited on the candles by the passage of the liquid therethrough.

At its other end the casing I is provided with a casing head 20. A division plate, or partition, 2| is mounted across the casing III, as shown, and separates a filtrate, or outlet, or discharge, chamber 22 within the head 20, from an inlet, or filtering, chamber 28 on the other side of said plate 2|. The eiiiuent conduit 23, provided with a flow control valve 24, leads from the outlet chamber 22, as shown. As is customary in this type of filter the filtering elements or candles 25 are mounted on the plate 2| so as to extend into the body of the filtrate chamber 28. Each element has a passageway, such as shown at 26, extending the length thereof and discharging into the outlet chamber 22 through an opening 21 in the plate 2|, arranged to register with the passageway 26, as is well known.

In the apparatus of my invention the casing H.) is supported by trurmions 30 and 3|, which, preferably, are hollow, as shown. The trunnions 3D and 3| in turn are journaled in bearings 32 and 33 carried by a supporting frame 34. In my preferred construction the inlet pipe I3 is rigidly connected to the trunnion 30, as shown. Sim ilarly the efliuent conduit 23 is rigidly connected to the trunnion 3|. Supply pipe 35 is rotatably connected to the trunnion 30 by a liquldtight connection, which may be of any suitable type, but for purposes of illustration is shown as comprised of a packing gland 36 held in place by a gland nut 31. The outlet pipe 38 is similarly rotatably connected to the trunnion 3|, a liquidtight connectLon being formed by the packing gland 39 and the gland nut 40. It is thus obvious that the casing |0 may be rotated with respect to its supporting frame 34 so that either the conical hopper II or the discharge chamber 22 is at the bottom. Thus the candles 25 will be depending from the plate 2| or standing erect therefrom, as desired by the operator, and as illustrated in the two figures. I

I also prefer to have a second inlet 45 pro-i vided with a valve 46 leading from the inlet trunnion 30 and discharging adjacent the plate 2|. as shown. Across the discharge end of the 4 second inlet 45 I place, a deflecting channel or bailie 41 so arranged as to prevent liquid fiowing therethrough discharging against the elements 25.

A pipe 50 provided with a valve passes through the partition 2| and the casing head 20. This pipe serves several purposes: it is an air vent at the state of precoating operation; it is an air inlet when it is desired to remove the coat of filter aid material from the candles 25;

,and, in the second position of the filter, serves as a liquid drain from the casing.

that the elements or candles have been cleaned v: and it is desired to form a coat of filter aid material thereon. At this stage the filter is in the I position shown in Figure 1, with the outlet chamber 22 at the top and the conical hopper H at the bottom. The filter elements are thus suspended in a dependent position from the plate 2|. The second inlet valve 46 is closed while the first inlet valve I5 is open. The outlet valve 24 is also open. A slurry of filter aid material such as diatomaceous earth, or the like, suspended in an inexpensive liquid, such as water, is introduced through the inlet l3. As the liquid portion of the slurry passes through the elements 25 the filter aid material is deposited on the outside thereof, thus forming a coating, or bed, of such material on the elements. Then the liquid flows upwardly through the passageways 26 in the elements into the outlet chamber 22 and out the outlet 23, 38. The first liquid passing through the filter will not be completely clarified and will contain some turbidity until a proper coating has been formed on the elements. As soon as the coating of filter aid material is formed, the casing is rotated to the position shown in Figure 2, in which the outlet chamber 22 is at the bottom and the conicalportion H is at the top. Inlet valve I5 is then closed. At this point the casing I0 is initially full of water. The water is then drained out of the casing, preferably by passing through the elements into the manifold 22 and is siphoned off through the outlet pipes 23, 38. It can also be drained through pipe 50, if de-' sired. As explained more fully in my co-pending application, Serial No. 750,242, such draining does not cause the coating of filter aid material to fall from the elements 25, so that although the easing has been completely drained, the coating of filter aid material is firmly attached to the supporting elements.

The second inlet valve 46 is now opened. Then a flow of liquid to be filtered is passed into the filter, entering the filter chamber of the casing |0 at the bottom and soon filling it. The liquid passes through the coating of the elements 25 and down into the outlet chamber 22 and out through the outlets 23, 38.. If it is desired to temporarily interrupt the process without reforming .the bed, the valve .46 is closed and the casing is then drained by the siphon 23, 38- the valve on outlet l2 being opened slightly to permit air'to enter the casing l0. Draining by this method does not cause the coating to fall from the elements so that filtering can be resumed at any time desired without the necessity of reforming the filtering coat. When the coat has become so contaminated that it must be removed from the filter or the coating has been so 'c'ompacted that it must be reformed. the filter is rotated to the original ammo" 5 position shown in Figure-'1, The: drain IZ- isr opened and'the filter coating" readily falls-from; the elements- 25-. Usually it will be advisable: prior to'rotating thecasing from the-position of Figure 2 to that of Figure l, to drain thecasing-z Hlof the valuable liquid being filtered and-tothenpassenough water through the elements to fill:- thechamber 22. Then, when thedrain I? is; opened; the backfiow of water through the-ele ments 25' will easily wash the filter aid material; from the elements and out the drain I25 A new coating can-then be formed'as-above'describedi It is' obvious that my invention can take-a1 variety of forms as" I have shown a preferred form only.

I claim:

1. A filter of the type described comprising'afi rotatably mounted filter casing, a partition in said casing forming an. outlet chamber at one end thereof, and a filter chamber at the other end thereof and a constantly open passageway'between said chambers, a solids outlet from said filter chamber, a filter element mounted on said partition and so positioned as to discharge through said passageway into said outlet cham ber, a supply inlet associated with said casing, a conduit leading from said supply inlet and discharging 'into said filter chamber adjacent to said solids outlet, a second conduit leading from said supply inlet into said filter-chamber and discharging adjacent said partition, and an outlet from said outlet chamber.

2. A filter of the type described comprising a. casing, hollow trunnions mounted on saidl'casing to support the same, bearings rotatably supporting said trunnions, a partition in said casing dividing it into an outlet chamber and a filter, passageways through said partition, an outlet from said outlet chamber into one of said trunnions, a supply conduit into the other of said trunnions, divided inlets leading from said last mentioned trunnion into said filter chamber, one discharging therein adjacent said partition and the other discharging at the opposite end of said filter chamber, valves on said divided inlets, and filter elements in said filter chamber mounted on said partition and communicating with said outlet chamber through said passageways.

3. A filter of the type described comprising a vertically extending casing, trunnions so mounted on said casing as to permit rotation of the same about a horizontal axis, a horizontal partition in said casing dividing it into a filtrate outlet chamber and a filter chamber, an outlet from said filtrate outlet chamber, divided inlets leading into said filter chamber, one discharging therein adjacent said partition and the other discharging at the opposite end of said filter chamber, valves on said divided inlets, vertical liquid pervious filter elements in said filter chamber mounted on said horizontal partition, and a port through said partition for each of said filter elements and registering therewith, said elements and said ports affording communication from said filter chamber to said filtrate chamber.

4. In combination with a filter comprising a casing, a supply inlet leading into said casing and discharging into one end portion of said casing, a waste outlet leading from said end portion, a filtrate outlet leading from the opposite end portion of said casing, a partition interposed between said inlet and said filtrate outlet and forming in said casing an outlet chamber adjacent said filtrate outlet and a filter chamber adjacent said inlet, a plurality of passageways "jacent theiend opposite said "plate; valves on said through: saidi partition, I and, permeable.- hollow. filter: elements: mounted in said filter chamber" and discharging." through said? passageways intosaid-filtrate -outlettchamber; a stationary frame,

a supporting: meansmounted on said casing and rotat'abl'y supportedbgsaidxframe, said supporting means-"being mounted" on an axis perpendicul'ar' to the-'- aidsofi'said' filter: elements and" said casing; and"a=- branch-inlet leading from said suppiydn'letand discharging adj acent' said partition.

5;- Afilterofftliwtypedescribed, comprising a isteringz-wittr said port and having a passageway thereinfor-F discharging filtered liquid therethr'ougii; rotatable supporting means for said casingssdconstructdhnd arranged that said casing maybe-turned around ahorizontal axis fromextends'vertically upwardly therefrom during the filtering operation, and means for discharging incoming-liquidiinthe'lower portionof the filterehamberin-ea'ch' of-said positions of the casing,

said: means including a first inlet for incoming, liquid discharging? into" said filter chamber adjacent? said plate; asecond' inlet for incoming liquid discharging into said' filter chamber ad'- inlets, and means for draining said casing in either of said positions, said means including conduits from the vertically opposed ends of said casing.

6. In a filter of the type described comprising a filter casing, a partition in said casing dividing said casing into an inlet chamber and an outlet chamber, a filtrate outlet from said outlet chamber, a solids outlet from said inlet chamber, a port in said partition, a filter element mounted on said partition and having a passageway extending therealong and registering with said port in said partition to discharge into said outlet chamber through said port, and a supply conduit associated with said casing, the improvement characterized'by a first inlet conduit leading from said supply conduit and discharging in said inlet chamber adjacent to said solids outlet, a second inlet conduit leading from said sup ply conduit and discharging in said inlet chamber adjacent to said partition, and rotatable supporting means mounted on said casing in such manner that said casing may be rotated 180, whereby the filter may be used in one position during the forming and removing of a filter coat and may be used in a vertically reversed position during filtering.

7. In a filter of the class described, a hollow casing having a partition therein dividing said casing into an inlet chamber and an outlet chamher, a filtrate outlet from the end of said outlet chamber, a sludge outlet from the other end of said casing, a filter element mounted on and extending from said partition into said inlet chamber and being in a generally vertical position during operation of the filter, a passageway through said filter element leading to said outlet chamber, for discharging filtered liquid to said outlet chamber; the improvement characterized by a support frame, a pivotal mounting for said casing on said support frame, mounting said casing for turning movement. about an axis transverse to the longitudinal axis of said casing,.

to permit said easing to be positioned with said filtrate outlet depending therefrom during the filtering operation, and to be positioned with said sludge outlet depending therefrom during the coating of said filter with a filter aid material and during removal of filter material there-- ber, a filtrate outlet from said outlet chamber, a

sludge outlet from the end of said inlet chamber, a filter element mounted on and extending from said partition into said inlet chamber and bein in a generally vertical position during operation of the filter, a passageway through said filter element leading to said outlet chamber for discharging filtered liquid to said outlet chamber; liquid inlets into opposite ends of said inlet chamber, valve means selectively operable to control the admission of liquid through either of said liquid inlets to either end of said inlet chamber, hollow trunnions extending outwardly from opposite sides of said casing intermediate the ends thereof and a frame member having said trunnions journaled thereon and forming a support, means for said casing and mounting said casing for turning movement to position said filtrate outlet to depend therefromin one position of such casing, thereby permitting complete draining of said casing after the coating and prior to the filtering operation, and to position said sludge outlet to depend therefrom in another position of said casing, thereby permitting discharge of filter material after back-washing and prior to coating, a liquid conducting connection from said filtrate outlet to the hollow inside of one of said trunnions and a common liquid conducting connection from said inlets to the other of said trunnions, whereby liquid may be conducted to said inlets and from said outlet in all positions of adjustment of said casing with respect to said frame.

EDGAR W. BAILY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Certificate of Correction Patent No. 2,496,370 February 7, 1950 EDGAR W. BAILY It is hereby certified that errors appear in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows:

Column 3, line 42, for the word filtrate reed filter; column 5, line 37, after filter and before the comma insert chamber;

and that the said Letters Patent should be read with these corrections therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Ofiice.

Signed and sealed this 30th day of May, A. D. 1950.

[sun] THOMAS F. MURPHY,

Assistant Commissioner of Patents. 

